Market Potential of gas central air condition in Shangdong is large.
“Not only economical,gas central air condition can also have advantages in saving electricity,environmental protection,getting good use of waste heat and natural gas.” Li Yongan,Prexy of School of Thermal Energy Engineering of Shangdong institute of Architecture and engineering,marked on August 19th 2005. Air condition is passed by “power drinker”. Central Air condition makes up more than 30% of the total electricity consumption in Shangdong province,and that makes it “principal”of the shortage.
Compared to electricity,the source of natural gas is more in Shangdong province. The ratio of the effective pipe networks in Thermoelectricity factories is only around one eighth in summer time. Spare pipes can supply for gas central air condition. Moreover,after September 2005,natural gas will become more abundant as the arrival of the source from E’erduosi and West-East natural gas transmission project.
But the insider also pointed out that some factors also restrict the popularizing of gas air condition. The disposable input of gas air conditioner is about 30% higher than the electrical air conditioner. And the scope of application of central air conditioner is limited.
“经济账是一方面，燃气空调的优点更在于缓解电力紧张，保护环境，实现废热和天然气的合理利用。”2005年8月19日，山东建筑工程学院热能工程学院李永安院长表示。空调素有“喝电虎”之称，据了解，山东省空调市场每年以20％以上的速度增长，夏季用电高峰期，空调用电占到了全省总用电负荷的30％以上，被称为导致电力紧缺的“罪魁祸首”。
相对于电能，在山东省推广燃气空调的能源来源问题不大。据了解，每到夏季全省各大热电厂的管网利用率仅能达到1/8左右，它们可以为燃气空调提供充足的能源。而2005年9月份之后，鄂尔多斯和西气东输的天然气也将到达山东，天然气能源将更加丰富。
但业内人士也指出，燃气空调一次性投入比电空调高30％左右、中央空调使用范围有限等因素，相对制约了全省电空调向燃气空调的转变。
